Poration



O. R. SWEENEY BRINE TANK FOR WATER SOFTENERS Filed Sept. 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 4, 1928. 1,693,829

0. R. SWEENEY BRINE TANK FOR WATER SOFTENERS Filed Sept. 9, 1926 2 sheets-sheet '2 Patented Dec. 4, 1928.

UNITED STATES ATE OFFICE.

ORLAND RUSSELL SWEENEY, or AMES, IOWA, ASSIGNORTO WARD-LOVE PUMP COR- PORATION, or nooKFonn-ILLINoIsA CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

BR NE'TANK ron W T R soF'rENERs.

' Application filed September This invention relates to brine tanks for use in connection with base-exchange water softeners and more particularly those of the automatic or semiautomatictype.

Water softeners of the base-exchange type are reconditioned "or regenerated from'time to'time'by the passage of salt water or brine through the zeolitiematerial therein. In the case of small plants of the hand operated -type, such as are suitable only for domestic use, theoperation of regenerating is usually conducted by merely pouring in. a certain amount oft-he salt or brine and carryingon the regeneration by manual manipulation of valves. In. the :case of automatic or semiautomatic plants where the "regeneration 7 must be taken care of without manual interventio'n except for the replenishing of the salt supply from time to time, it becomes necessary to "provide a salt or brine tank of the typefcontemplatedby. the present invention wherein the brine is prepared in the intervals between re enerations so as to be in readiness for regenerating the softener when the occasion arises. A brinetank of this type, while particularly suited for use with automatic softeners, may be used in connection with large installations, automatic or otherwise, such as are used in laundries, hotels, and in the industries wherever large amounts of brine are required for the regenerating operations. 1 p 1 One of the principal objects. of the invention is to'oprovide a-brine'tank' having a salt compartment anda brine compartmentfthe brine compartment beingarranged to have communication with the salt compartment during the production of the brine and hav- I (it) mg a brine outlet arranged to communicate with a water softener and a fresh water inlet through which fresh water is introduced to. displace theibri'ne and thereby expel it from the brine tank for passage through the water softener. f 5 Another object of the inventionis to providenovel means operable under the pressure of the incoming fresh.water to close communication between the brine compartment and the salt compartment, a special feature ofsaid means being that it ispositive inoperation, simple in constructionand not apt 1 to require any attention after the sameis installed. v v I,

Still another object is to provide a floati933 br ne ta ha ng a t p sa t r pa t:

9, 1925s. Serial 1:6..134342.

ment, in which it is a simple matter to replenish the salt supply, and abottom brine compartment, the two compartments being in communication through a port in the par- .tition wall separating the same and through a tubular screen or diaphragm mounted over the/port and'afi'ording access for the water in the brine compartment to the salt in the salt. compartment over a considerable area to facilitate the production of brine.

' With regard to the installation of the brine tanl a-n important object of the invention is the provision of a drainoutlet ata predetermined desired level with respect to the brine tank, and valve means establishing communication therewith to permit lowering the The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where1n Figure 1 1s a central vertical section improvements .Fig. 2 is a fragmentaryenlarged sectional through a. brine tank embodying the present detail of the valve, controlling the communication between the salt "compartment and brine compartment and illustrating the mode of operation thereof Fig. 2 is a central vertical section through a screen or diaphragm of'a modified construction incorporating means to aid in the better circulation between the salt and brine compartments; I I 1 Fig. 3 is a central vertical section through the main. control valve used in connection with the brine tank in a water softener'installation, as illustrated in Figs. 4 to 6; and Figs. 4, '5, and 6 are diagrammatic views of a watersoftener installation showing the brine "tank in connection with the softener j'tanl; and a valve of the. type'shown in Fig.

3. Fig. .4 represents'the connections established fornormalsoftening operat1on,F1 g. 5 r ent t e Wres er" F l?l f reference numerallO and comprises a recep taclehaving an upper salt compartment 11 and a lower brine compartment12 separated by a partition wall 13. l he brine compare ment 12 is closed except for a port 142 provided in the partition wall 13 through which comn mnication i established with the brine compartment 11. A screen 15, or other suitable diaphragm of an elongatedtubulm: form, is mounted over the port 14: and suitably secured as by means of a ring 16 and rivets 17. The screen 15 is of appreciable height and extends nearly to the top of the salt compartment. The upper end thereof closed as indicated at 18, to exclude any floating debris from the brine. Salt, as indicated at 19, is stored in the salt compartment ontop of the wall 18 about the screen 15. The tank initially filled with water to about the level indicated and thislevel, as will be pointed out hereinafter, is maintained, the thought being to avoid having the water level reach a point where an overflow would result if the usual stipulated charge of salt were poured in at a time when the salt supply had to be replenished. In other words, the head room in the compartment 11 above the Water level. should be e uivalent approximately to the volume of sa t to be poured in, at any given time. From the description thus far, it Will appear that the communication established between the compartments 11 and 12 tln-ough the port 14 affords access for the waterin the brine compartment 12 to the-salt 19 over a considerable area as thesalt is exposed to the action of the water about the screen 15 throughout the depth of the salt bed. There will obviously be a'circulation induced as the Water coming in contact with the salt, and becoming denser in proportion as it becomes saturated, it will seek a lower level and displace less saturated or fresh water. The latter, as a consequence, will rise centrally through the port 14. There will thus he a central rising columnot fresh water or of less saturated solution and a falling rcular column of denseror saturated solution. This circulation will carry on. as long as anv dit-- ference in saturation exists and eventually all of the Water in the compartment 12 is converted into brine.

In Fig. 2 1 have shown screen .1 diapl ragln oi modified or alternative cr r truction having means to promote circula tween thiehrine and saltcompartments. The screen 15 has a cylindrical sheet metal shell or casing 55 inserted therein and secured tl'ierewith in any suitable manner over the port 1-1 on top of the partition wall 113. The shell .55 closed at the top as indicated. at 56 and has a central partition wall 57 dividing the same into two passages 58 and fil The passage 58 opens through the screen 15 at its upper end through a plurality of openings till while the paw-m e 5'.) opens through the sca'cen 15 at the lower port ion thereof through a plurz'llity of openings ($1. In operation, the fresh water or less dense solution will be con stantly displaced by thobrine or dcuscr solution and, as a rcsult, there will be a rising column in the passage 58, as iiulicalml by the arrows, as the 'lircsh water or lcss dense solul ion is displaced upwa'udly. This solution enters the salt compartmcnt through the o wuings (ill. As the solution dissolves the t, it becomcs heavier and settles lo the bottom oi? the salt compartment and eventually passes through the openings (ll, as indicated by the arrows, and flows dovvnwardly in the passage lit) into the brine comparlmeut. ()hviously such imluced circulation will continue so long; as any appreciable di llcrence in the density o l the solution in the two compartments cxi s.

The port 1 1 has a valve seat 20 provided on a spider element 21 riveted by its rim portion to the underside of the partition wall 13, suitably b means of the rivets 17 previously re't'crrec to. A valve disk 22 is arranged to close the port 1 1 by rising; up into engagement with the seat 20, as shown in Fig. 2. The valve disk 22, however, normally rests on the top 0-1 a pipe 2;, in spaced relation to the seat 20, being arranged to drop by gravity to the normal iimperative position shown in Fig. 1. A guide stem it threading in the hub of the spider 21 and dcl'ieuding thearet'rom extends through a. central opening 25 provided in the valve disk and serves thereby to guide the valve in its lllUYtllltlll lo and from its seat and to prevent disphtct meut thereof [from the top of the pipe 2:). The pipe 22:3 tlu'eulded in the bottom 26 oil the brine tank to conm'mnicalc with a 'lrcsh water inlet pipe Another )ipc 2S ('(lllllnunicating with the bottom o'l t 10 brine compa rtment serves as an outlet for the brine and is arranged to con'nnunicate with the water softener tank served by the brine tank. The pipe 23 serves as a cylinder in which a piston 29 is arranged to reciprocate. The piston 29 has a fairly close lit within the pipe 233 and is also provided with annular grooves Ill) to give a liquid seal against the possible by-passing of the water around the piston in operation. Both the piston 29 and the pipe Bil. which serves as its cylinder, are made preterably of bakelite material in order to withstand the cerrosive action ol the brine in the com mrtmcnt 12. The likelihood oi the piston sticking is in this way reduced to a minimum. This precaution is particularly necescoiled compression spring 31.

sary in view of the factthat the piston is: operated only at appreciable intervals and might otherwise tend to rust tight in its cylinder.

The piston 29 preferably has a resilient connection with the valve 22, as by means of a The spring forced upwardlv against its seat. "Ports 32' are provided in the walls of the pipe 23 at such an elevation as to insure appreciable compression of the spring 31 by the piston 29 before the ports 32 are uncovered. The ports 32 serve as outlets for the fresh water enter- 7 ing through the inlet 27. It will thus appear that when the valve, hereinafter to be de scribed, affording communicationbetweena source ofwater supply under pressure and theinlet 27 is opened, the piston 29 is forced upwardly and seats the valve 22 in the manner illustrated in Fig; 2. The piston 29 after raising the valve to its seat is forced to move an additional amount before uncoveringthe ports 32fso that the spring 31 is placed under compression and the valve 22 is thereby held securely seated. The fresh water issuing; from the ports 32,..which by the way are near the top of'the brine compartment, causes the brine in the compartment. to be displaced downwardly so that brine is forced through the softener tank with which the pipe 28 is connected. The displacement laterally and vertically of the fresh water inlet relative to the brine outletinsures the complete exhaustion of the brine from the compartment 12 The amount of brine displaced will'ob-viously and thefreplacementthereof by freshwater.

be proportionate to the amount of fresh water introduced. 7 Obviously, there is nothing in the operation tending to diminishthe total volume of liquid in the brine tank. As soon as the valveabove mentioned is closed to discontinue the flow of fresh water, the piston 29 will drop, initiallyunder the action of the spring 31 and thereafter unde-rtheaction p of gravity, as will also the valve 22. The latter eventually comes to rest on top of the pipe 23. The ports 32 are, of course, closed in' the descent of the piston 29 while the port 14 is opened in the descent of the valve'22.

Communication being re-established between.

til

.tliecompartments 11 and 12, the fresh water which has entered the brine compartment will immediately commence actionon the salt 19 in the manner above described to form another charge. of brine for the succeeding Referring now to Figs. 3 to 6, it will be seen that the brine tank 10 forms a part of a water softener installation including a .water softenerta nk having a water supply line 36 and service system 37 connected therewith through a valve 38. [his is in accord ance with the disclosure in Harwood et a1,

Patent 1,593,300, issued July 20, 1926. The

tions to which the plugl40' is arranged'tobe shifted. The operation'of the valve plug 40 may, obviously, be manual, automatic, or

either case is connected with the stem 44. It is believed this brief description will suf fice for a general understanding of the valve 38 so that ont may intelligently follow the.

description of the water softener installation: under the three conditions illustrated by Figs. 4, 5, and 6, namely, the'normal' softening operation, the regenerating operation, and, the flushing operation.

In the normal softening operation, lnunication is established between the Water supply line 36 and the service system communicating With the line 37 through the softener tank 36 as followszFrom the supply line. 36, through the port 41, through pipe intothe bottom-of the softener tank 35-.for passage upwardly through the mineral there in for softening. Leaving-the tank through pipe46 the softened water passes through port 42 ofthevalve .38 into the service line. 37; This 'operationzcontinues for a predeter mined capacity run after- Which the exhaustsemi-automatic. The operating means 'in COIII- ed mineral in the tank35'has to be regenerated.

In the regenerating operation, the valve 38 has the plug 40 thereof shifted, as shown in Fig. 5, to a position 90 advanced from the normal position 'shown in Fig. 4. Com

.munication is thus establshed between the pipe 28-. This brine is conducted through port 41 in the valve 38 vandthence through pipe 46 into the top of the softener tank 35 for passage downwardlythrough the mineral,

therein. The mineral is revived by the action of the brine in a manner well known in this art and the spent brine issuing from the loWer' part of the tank passes through pipe. 45 and through port 43 in the valve '38 througha drain outlet 50 and thence through a waste outlet 51 to thesewen Thellocation Y of the drain outlet 50 as respects its elevation relative to the brine tank should here be noted. Assuming that the saltsupply in the brine tank 10 has just been replenished so that the water level therein is at the point indicated by the dottedlinesin Fi 4 and 5 very near the rim of the tank, it will-presently be made clear how the level is made to, drop flow of brine, that is, in the same direc tion as the normal softening flow. Thevalve 38 has the plug thereof shifted to the position shown in Fig 6, advanced from that shown in Fig. 5, to establish the following circuits: From the supply line 36 through the port 41 of the valve 38 and through pipe 45 into the bottom of the softener tank The water passes upwardly through the mineral and is thereby softened. Whatever hard water maybe in the head space above the mineral in the softener tank 35 will be displaced by the rising column of soft water out through the pipe 46. From the pipe 46 the Water passes through port it; in the valve 38 through pipe 52 into the waste outlet 51 and thence to the sewer. Upon the completion of the flushing operation the system is obviously cleared of any hard water so that when the valve 38 is turned through 180 back to the position shown in Fig. l to recommence the softening operation therewill be no hard water introduced in the service system. A parallel circuit is established through the valve 38 in'the flushing operationby virtue of which the waterlcvel in the brine tank is lowered to the level of the drain outlet 50. This circuit. follows: The brine outlet 28 communicates through the port 42 ot the valve38 with the drain outlet 50 which, as described aboveQcommunicat-es with the waste outlet 51. Fresh water which has just previously beeninjccted into thebrine compartment during the regenerating operation is caused to flow the circuit described untilthe level of the liquid in the brine tank has dropped to the level oi the drain out-let 50. Any resistance to flow oi the Water due to pipe triction is easily overcomeby the injector action resulting f om the violent flow of the flushing water pas n through the waste outlet 51 so that the water level inthe brine tank is quickly brought down to the level of the drain outlet. There canbe no siphoning action to cause the level to drop farther since the drain outlet 50 has a a vent pipe 53 extending therefrom to a point maintained at lhe predclcvnlined lcvcl ol the drain outlet All) so that allclinitc head space is left in the salt compzu'lmcnt above the water level therein, there is no need for an overflow to the sewer since there is always sufficient space left to receive the usual salt charge without the likelihood of there being an overflow. In previous types of brine tanks it was customary to provide an over? flow on the brine tank and, on each occasion of charging the tank with a fresh supply ol salt, twenty or thirty gallons of brine passed out through the ovevllo and were wasted. Such a loss is entirely obviated by the simple expedient just descriliicd and it will be noted that the wa ter caused to drain from the brine tank is fresh water and not brine since the water removed from the brine tank is taken from the brine compartment almost immediately after the rcgene 'aling operation when the brine compartment contains only fresh water.

It is believed that the foregoing description sulliciently clear and complol cto a ll'ord enough of an understanding of the purposes andoperationof' the present invention that anyone verscdin the art and acquainted with the problems with which the pi'esei'it invention deals could make and use the invention to good advantage.

1 claim:

1. In a. water. softener installation, the combination with a water softener tank, ol a brine tank having a top salt colnpartnwnt and .a bottom brine compartmcnt normally in communiaition, a. pipe leading from the latter compartment thereof. av drain outlet at a predetermined level near the level of the top of said saltcompartmcnt, and means lxt)lmally serving to control connnunicution be tween the softener and brine tanks, said means being adapted for opening con'nnunh cation between said pipe and said drain outlet to lower the level oi walcr in so id brine tank to the predetermined level o'l said oullet for the pin-pose described.

2. In a water softener installation the (Ollllllllllilfill with a 'ater so'lftcncr tank. of abrine tank having an upper salt comparin'ient and a. lower brine compartment normally in comn'iunication with one another, a valve normally serving to control communication between the so'll'cner and brine tanks, and also arranged to establish communication between said brine compartment and a source of water supply. and a drain oulh-l: at a prci'letermincd level ncarlhc lcvcl ol? the top oi? said salt compartment, said valve being arranged to establish connnunicatiou between said brine compartment and said outlet to lower the level oi? water in said brine tank to the predetermincd lcvcl o'li said onllct {or the purpose described.

3. In a water softener installation. the combination with a water softener tank, of

lllfi Ill] llll) in brine tank having a top salt compartment and a bottom brine compartment normally in communication with one another, the .latter having an inlet and an outlet, a drain outlet at 'a predetermined'level near the level of the top of said salt compartment arranged 7 for, aservice system supplied thereby, a brine tank, valve means serving to establish comto be placed in communication with said outlet to lower the level of water in said brine,

tank to the predetermined level of said drain outlet, and valve means normallyserving to control Communication between the'softener and brine tanks, andalso arranged at one time in each cycle of operations of the softener to open communicationbetween the inlet and a source of waterfsupply and arranged at another time in said cycle to open communication between said tank .outlet and said drain outlet.

4. Inawater softener installation, a water softener tank, a source of Water supply theremunication normally between said water supply and said service system through said softener tank but arranged to establish communication between said softener tank and, saidbrinetank whereby to supply brine to the softener tank,cand a drain out-let arranged at a predetermined level near the level of the top of said brine tank, said valve means being arranged to establish communication between said brine tank and said drain outlet whereby to lower the levelof water in said tankto the predetermined level of said outlet for the purpose described.

5. Inawater softener installation the com-, bination of a water softener tank, a source of water supply, a service system, a brine tank having a freshwater 1nlet and a brlne outlet,

valve means for controlling the communication betwen said source of water supply and said service system through said softener tank and arranged to control the communication betwen said'sourceof water'supply and the fresh ater inlet of said brine tank as well as betwen the brine outlet of said brine tank and said softener tank whereby brine is caused to pass through said softener tank 'from the brine'tank, and a drain outlet at a predetermined level near the level of the top of said brine tank, said valve means being arranged to establish communication between v the brine outlet of said brine tank and said drain outlet whereby to lower the level of "water in said tank to the predetermined level of said outlet for the purpose described.

6. In combination, a water softenerftank, a brine 'tank'having an upper and'a lower I compartment, the upper compartment being arranged tocontain salt and being normally in communication with the lower compartment, an inlet and an outlet for said tank communicatin'g with the lower compartment, a 1 source of water supply, valve means arranged to establish communication between said let.

tank. v

source of water supply and the tankinletand between the tank outlet and said water softener whereby to supply brine from the lower 7 brine tank is charged with freshwater, wherep by to lower. the level .of water .in the upper compartment of said tank to the predeteiy minedlevel of said outlet for thepurpose de scribed.

7 In a water softener installation thecombination of a water softener tank, a source of water supply, a servicesysten'i, valve means for normally establishingcommunication be tween said water supply and said service sys-' tem through said softener, tank, a brine tankfor regenerating the softener tank, said valve means being arranged to establish communication from said water supply through said brine tank to said softener tank to cause the passage of brinefrom the brinetank to the:

softener tank for regeneration, a waste outlet, said valve means being arranged to estab lish communication from said vwater supplythrough said softener tank to said waste outlet for flushing said softener tank, and a drain outlet disposed at a predetermined level near the level of the top of said brine tank having communicationiwith saidwaste outlet and arranged to be placed in communication with'said brine tank during the flushing operation of the softener tank wherebyto lower the level of water in the brineytank to the predetermined level of said drain out- 8.'In a water softener installation as set forth in claim *7, the provision of said drain outlet disposed 111 such relation to said waste outlet whereby advantage is takenof an injector action produced on the drain outlet by the action of the flushing water passingthrough the. waste outlet to hasten the lowering of the level of the water in the brine 9. In a system of the character described,

the combination with {LXWMZGI softener tank,

of a tank for dissolving material, such as salt, having a material compartment adapted to contain soluble material and a liquid com,-

partment, means establishing communication between said compartn'ientsto afford access- .for the liquidjto the material to dissolvethe same, an inlet for-the liquid compartment, an

outlet foi' said compartment, and meanswh ereby commun cation between said comf partments is closed during the introduction of liquid to the liquid compartmentthrough i said inletwherebysolution in the liquidcoinpartment is arranged to-be expelled therefrom to the softener tank through said outlet.

10. In a tank for dissolving material, such as Salt, a receptacle having a material compartment and a liquid compartment, a port normally establishing communication between said compartments to afford access for the liquid to the material to be dissolved, a valve controlling said port, an inlet for said liquid compartment, anoutlet therefor, and means connected with said valve arranged to be operated in the introduction of liquid into said liquid compartment through said inlet whereby to operate said valve and close communication between said compartments.

11. In a tank of the character descrilmd, a receptacle having an upper material compartment and a lower liquid-compartment, a port establishing communication between saidoompartments to afford access for the liquid to the material, a valve for controlling sald port, said valve being arrangecil normally tomove by "gravity downwardly away from said port, an outlet for said tank com-. municiting with the liquid compartment, and an inlet communicating with the same coin.- partment, said valvebeing arranged to be lifted toward closed position under the action of the incoming liquid to close communica tion between said compartments during the introduction of liquid to said liquid compartment.

12. In a water softener installation, the combination with a softener tank, of a receptacle having an upper'material compartment and a lower liquid compartment separated by a partition fwall, an inlet and an outlet for. the lower compartment, an opening. provided in said partition wall for establishing communication between said compartments, means for closing said opening, during: 'the'introduction of water into the lower compartment through said inlet whereby: solutionin said compartment arranged to'bc expelled therefrom to the softener tank through said outlet, a tubular screen mounted over said opening to retain the material in the material. compartment against bodily through said opening into said liquid compartment while preserving the aforesaid communication between said compartments,

and means in said screen dividing the space therein into an. upflow passageway and a downfiow passageway for the purposes described. a

13. In a water softener installation, the combination with a softener tank, of a receptacle having an upper material compartmen-tzvand, lower r liquid; compartment separated by a partition wall, an inlet and an outlet for the lower compartment,an opening in said phrtition Wit-ll; for establishing communication between said compartments,

mean-s. for-closing said opening during the introd-action of water into the lower compalt ment. through said inlet whereby solution in.

i said compartment is arranged. to be expelled.

therefrom to the softener tank through said outlet, a tubular screen 'mountci'l over said opening to retain the material in the material compartment against passage bodily through said opening into said liquid compartment while preserving the aforesaid conmlunication between said compartnnmts, said screen extending an ap 'n'eciable height in the male rial COIHPll-li'll'lfilll; nearly to the upper end of the latter and having its upper cnd closed, and meansprovided in connection with said screen facilitating currents in opposite directions thcretln'oug'h, said means providing: laterally opposed inlet and outlet opcnhun: disposed respectively at opposite curls ol said screen for the purposes hcrciu described.

lat. In a brine tank, a liquid rcccplaclc having a salt pocket therein, a valve couhoh ling access to said pocket-tor the liquid in said receptacle, an outlet for said rcciqilaclc, an inlet for said receptacle, a piston dcvicc having connection with said valve for operating the same, and a cylinder for receiving said piston communicating with said inlet and discharging into said receptacle whereby said valve is operated to closed position by said piston device during the introductimi o l? liquid through said inletinto said cylinder and from thence into said receptacle.

In a brine tank, a liquid rcccpl aclc having a salt compartment and a brine compartment, a valve serving to control communlcru tion between said compartments, said valve normally tending to move to open position, an outlet for said brine compartment, fresh water inlet, a piston device connected with said valve to operate the same to closed position against its tendency to move to open position, and a cylinder having said piston rcciprocable therein, said cylinder being in communication with said inlet and llflVlllI ports providing communicatiim with said liquid compartment arranged to be uui-ovm-ml in the movcn'ient of said piston device 1.6. In a brine tank as set forth in claim 15, the provision of a conipression sprin in the connection between said valve and said piston device, said spring being arranged to lie compressed under the action of said piston device before the uncovering ol the ports provided in saidcylindcr whereby to sccurcly scat said valve.

17. In a brine tank, an upright liquid receptacle having an upper salt compartnuut and a lower brine compurtmcnt separulcd by a partition wall, a port provided in said wall establishing communication lwtwccn said compartments, a; valve for closing said port. a piston device for operating said valve. an upright cylinder within said brine comparb ment beneath said valve having said piston operable therein, said 'alvebeing arraaurml normallvto drop by gravity a 'ay from said port and being arranged forest on the top of said cylinder, an outlet for said brine comlllll llll 1 ill) partment, and-afresh wateninlet therefor communicating with said cylinder.

18. In a "brine tank as set forth in claim 17,

'the provision of a resilient connection between said valve andsaid piston arranged to be compressed in the operation of said piston to securely seat the valve, the port in said cyl inderbeing arranged to be uncovered only when said connection is placed under compre'ssion by the movement of said piston to the proper position. p

19. Ina brine tank as set forth 111 cla m 17,

the provision of a guide for said valve for piston is operated under the action compartment, and an inlet and outlet for said 7 brine compartment, said inlet having communication withsaid cylinder whereby the of the pressure of the entering water.

21. In a brine tank, a liquid receptacle hav in an upper salt compartment and a lower brine compartment separated by a 'partition wall, a port provided in, said wall affording communicationbetween said compartments, a valve disk for closing said port, a screen covering said port to retain the salt in the salt compartment, a spider element mounted over said port having a guide stem depending therefrom, said valvedisk having'an opening to receive said stem whereby to be guided in its movement toward and away from said port, a cylinder in said brine compartment beneath said port terminating in spaced relation thereto at its upper end, a piston recipro 7 cable in said cylinder and having connection with said valve 'disk'for operating the latter, a brine outlet for said brine compartment,

and a freshwater inlet for said compartment, said inlet comn'iunicating with said cylinder and said cylinder having a port in thewall thereoffor discharging fresh water entering at said inlet into'said brine compartment.

22. In a brine taiil" as set forth in claim 21, the provision of a coiled compression spring providing the connection between said piston and sa dvalve disk, said cylinder having a port arranged to'be uncovered by said piston only when saidspring is placed under compression whereby said valve disk is firmly V seated.

23; In a brine tank, a liquid receptacle. having an upper salt compartment and a lower brine compartment the latter compartment being closed with the exception of a port providin g restricted. communication between said other side of said compartment. V

' 28. In a brine tank, a liquid receptacle compartments,a Valve for 'closing'said port to seal the brine compartment in closed com- .mun'ication with respect to the salt compart- -inent, a brineoutlet for said brine compartment disposed at one 'side thereof, a fresh water inlet spaced from said outlet toward the opposite side of sa-id c'omp'artment,and means insuring the closing of said valve during the introduction of fresh' 'waterthrough said ill- 'let into said'brine'compartment.

24. Ina brine tank, a liquid receptacle havmg an upper salt compartment andaflower brine compartment, the latter compartment being closed with the exception ofa port providing restricted communication between said compartments, a valve for closing-said port to seal the brine compartment in closed communication with respect to the salt compartment, a fresh water inlet centrallydisposed with respect to said brine compartment, means operable upon the introduction of fresh water through said-inlet to close saidvalve, and a brine outlet disposed near brine compartment.

25. In" a brine tank asset forth in claim 24, the provision of a pipe for said fresh water inlet extending therefrom and having .a discharge port near the topv of'said brine c0mpartment.

26. In a brine tank, a liquid receptacle hav ing an upper salt compartment and a lower brine compartment, the latter compartment being closed with the exception of a port providing restrictedcommunication between said' compartments, a valve for closing said port to seal the brine compartment in closed cominunication with respect to the salt compartment, a fresh water inlet for said brine compartment discharging therein near the top of said compartment, and a brine outlet for said compartment exhausting the same near the bottom thereof. 7 p P V 27. Ina brine tank, a liquid receptacle having an upper salt compartment and a lower brine compartn'ient, the latter compartmentbeing closed with the exception of a port providing restricted communication bethe side of said tween said compartments, a valve for closing said port to seal the brinecompartment 'in closed communication with respect to the salt compartment, a fresh water inlet for said rine'eompar-tment discharging therein near the top of said compartment, and a brine outlet for said compartment exhausting the same near the bottom thereof, the outlet be ing near one side of said compartment and the inlet being spaced therefrom toward the having an upper salt compartment and a lower brine compartment separated by a partitionwall, an opening provided in said wall for establishing communication between said compartments, a hollow casing mounted over said opening andextending an appreciable a ei h iin-in id a ic nnn wwfi,@iii ca in hav n a wwri iwn iw PFH'WUQD n-em --P Yi1ing ,fi woiipas agies-nnddki ng an qpqnin ot h iun q ;P f 1 of i on Wa -fi d -e m@pq ingi-a t zlnwmzlm Q iq t h o hiepa w fimbllfl ingi comunicm pnb twsg Mid kri l @QIRPMW QM and aid sa win- ?pm'tjmmt, .and :S Fw OW TiQg w l p nin 10 mt a ille al =in l h g comp n' men 29. In a hLQ'i-QB panlg a liqmhreceptacle hav n an iupp 1 mmm w and ilqwe ib zine wm-p mwnt epa wdzbyi pa it tim Wall, ai wal ha ing W1 pen n the ein sta lishin wmnmmcz tion between M fiaid wnnw -nwn s, L nd i ipw oiiat d di phyagmrdeyioe mounted over gaicioponing to I reta nith salt inth fill ur mll f lllfil W il ip -c ewingzth ia o 'efia d wnun nicn m w-een wid @Qmpa tnmn .s ii diaphrwn d vic :ihav ng-i p rti o wal ,them P aiding :iomnnfini .Q liqui wh e n 0 o ,7 w nd do n: flow o tlwmhe s d 1 n i ideviqe qpen ngz ntoifiuidib sin omp tme at the upper portion Of ijll-e npflo yv pasgage -2 and at i the lqwer a portion ,Qf t1 1 downflow p ssage. I

,SBOLIn a ,brme tank, n llqnld 'eooptacle b nning an upper ,snit iron pnmnn nf and n lower bring .conipaytn ont sq 'nngalml by n 11111; titign wnll, gnid ,waill linving nn opening ,theyqip,winblisiling cmnnnmiontion betwevn saiil con p n ini cnts, ntubulnnscwelunolnitv l OYQlf snic opolnng for retnining t' llognl ta in the i nnit conlpn fi nent While preserving the aforeisaid o o nnnnnication betn eon sni l compartwiiientg nnd a gaging having myoponing nt its uppqr RQIJQQI] I on 'onosidennd an qp ning in the lower port-ion thereof atjts opposito i iu 1 x ing5to:limit the icirouintionof liquid b0- ,twegn ;ho salt and bii ne con nn't'lnqnts th ongli sn i 'l ,scroento said openings whereby less dense solution or fresh water pnssosout ."thl pngh ,tl e uppqr opening in said casing into said $21 11?- GOlliPiilftlliQIlt and brine o1 ZO LA D RUssn L SWEENEY. 

